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March 13 letters to the editor

The Newberg Graphic's readers' observances on the issues of the day in the area

Bruins are to be congratulated

To the editor:

Congratulations George Fox women for another great basketball season—25 wins, four losses.

I enjoyed watching them play and chuckled over the names. Three are named Emily (Spencer, Holder, Dufour); four others are Hailey (Hartney), Haley (Stowbridge), Haylee (Hutzler), and Kailey—(Doutt). Coach Michael doesn't have to be Meek, with 330 wins and only 35 losses in his nine years at George Fox).

Ralph Beebe, Newberg

Former DA's thinking backwards on issue of inappropriate touching

To the editor:

I am writing in response to Joshua Marquis's guest column, printed March 2. As a district attorney, surely Marquis must understand the difference between a property crime and a violent crime, both in intent and impact? I have had my house broken into once and my yard broken into three times, that I know of. I was able to replace or recover my material possessions.

I have also been inappropriately touched dozens (upon dozens) of times, as have most women. The first is often a crime of survival and a reflection of the systemic failure to deal with poverty, trauma and addiction. The latter is a crime of power, entitlement and ego.

For what it's worth, I work with inmates in three of Oregon's prisons and would support the release of 99 percent of the men incarcerated for property crimes— providing they receive necessary services, services they should have received long before entering the criminal justice system. Research buttresses my position.

You've got it backward, Mr. Marquis. The latter infraction is far worse and has longer lasting repercussions. I cannot replace or recover what I've lost each time a man has touched me in ways I didn't want to be touched.

Your letter is an insult to me, to all women who've been subjected to any measure of inappropriate touching, and also to the justice system— to the concept of justice in general.

Nevertheless, I thank you for inventing a new logical fallacy, and for retiring.

We have signs in our yards telling people they aren't alone, instructing them not to give up. We attend community events promoting mental health education and awareness. We wonder and worry about why so many of our fellow humans decide to end their own lives.

Then, in the face of an attempted tragedy, we "should" all over ourselves.

Our own first responders share photos of a woman on the worst day of her life -- the day she has decided will be her last.

We should be thankful for the heroic rescue. Photos spread onto social media like wildfire, her face and identity in plain sight, during her darkest hour. We stop and stare by the thousands, with mouths gaping open in amazement as she is rescued and then fill the comment section with opinions and judgements about her, in her family's darkest hour: She should have found help. She should have felt differently.

She is surrounded by people, all eyes are on her and her problems. But, I imagine she must feel so helplessly and painfully alone in her struggle, in her darkest hour.

Are we watching a reality TV show? Or are we witnessing a real-life human in dire straits? The lack of compassion and empathy shown to those of us who are struggling with our mental health feels like a black hole of heavy emptiness.

The disconnection we feel is real, no matter how many times we're told we are not alone.

If you really want to help, connect with each other. Take care of each other. Be respectful of each other when we're in our darkest hours. If you need help, keep looking. I promise it's out there.

I understand how hopeless you might feel, but we want you to stay here with us. We want you to feel better.

Amanda Bayha, Newberg

Why can't the city properly finish the library project?

Thank you, Newberg, for improving the public pool and fitness center, not to mention the library. Both projects were completed in a timely fashion and makes us feel proud, well, almost proud. Why doesn't the library have a new circulation desk to go along with everything else? Brand new features all around yet that dinosaur of a desk, oddly shaped with the green top, scratched as it is, was put back in and is sadly front and center as the first thing one sees when walking in off the streets.

I have asked about possible upgrade numerous times and have waited and waited for this last phase to be completed, and yet there it sits even though has been more than a year after the remodel completion.

Surely Newberg can finish off the job it began, right? Do we need to pass the hat?

The Chehalem Park and Recreation District sure did a fine job in making the pool and fitness center new from the get-go; no eye sores there. It is jaw-dropping beautiful from the parking lot to the door and everything within. Job well done.